SJNS Committee Meeting

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Meeting No. 13

MINUTES OF PROCEEDING

MONDAY, December 1^st, 1997

The Special Joint Committee on the Amendment to Term 17 of the Terms of Union of Newfoundland met in a televised session at 9:34 a.m., this day, in room 253-D, the Co-Chairs, Joyce Fairbairn and Gerry Byrne, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Pierre Brien, Gerry Byrne, Elinor Caplan, Paul DeVillers, Sheila Finestone, Raymonde Folco, Peter Goldring, Joe McGuire, Werner Schmidt.

Acting Members present: Mauril Bélanger for Claudette Bradshaw and Raymond Lavigne for Lawrence O’Brien.

Representing the Senate: William C. Doody, Joyce Fairbairn, Landon Pearson, William Rompkey.

In attendance: From the Committees and Private Legislation Directorate of the Senate: Blair Armitage, Co-Clerk of the Special Joint Committee. From the Parliamentary Research Branch: Mollie Dunsmuir and Jack Stillborn, Research Officers.

Appearing: The Hon. Stéphane Dion, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Witnesses: From the Department of Justice: Mary Dawson, Associate Deputy Minister of Justice; From the Privy Council Office: Yves de Montigny, Director General, Constitutional Affairs.

Pursuant to the Orders of Reference adopted by the Senate on November 5, 1997 and by the House of Commons on October 28, 1997, the Committee met to consider matters related to the proposed resolution respecting a proposed Amendment to Term 17 of the Terms of Union of Newfoundland with Canada concerning the Newfoundland school system.

The Minister made an opening statement and with the other witnesses answered questions.

Werner Schmidt moved – That the Co-Chairs make the strongest possible case to the respective Houses of Parliament for the extension of the reporting date for the Committee so that it can deal, in a comprehensive manner with the implications of the proposed constitutional amendments to Term 17.

After debate, the question being put on the motion of Werner Schmidt, it was, by a show of hands, negatived.

On motion of Paul DeVillers, it was agreed – That the Committee hear no more witnesses and that it now proceed to the consideration of its report in camera.

The Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

On motion of Paul DeVillers, it was agreed – That a drafting group of the Committee composed of Senators Joyce Fairbairn, William Rompkey and William Doody and of Pierre Brien, Peter Goldring, Gerry Byrne, Michelle Dockrill and Norman Doyle meet this afternoon to consider a draft report.

At 11:44 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Roger Préfontaine

Co-Clerk of the Committee